220 Memoir of M. D'Aiibuisson de \ oisins. 



though moderate in respect to fortune, connected him with a 

 distinguished family of the country : by his merit, the attrac- 

 tiveness of his mind and loyalty of his character; he had formed 

 many delightful and endearing relations in his native city ; 

 he there enjoyed that personal consideration and gratitude 

 which considerate persons could not refuse to the services 

 he had rendered. Benevolent himself, open-hearted, of gene- 

 rous disposition, agreeable and easy of access, always ready 

 to impart the advantages of his knowledge and experience, 

 he had become attached to good and substantial friends, whom 

 he was unwilling to quit. Without children, to his great re- 

 gret, but bestowng upon his nieces and sisters those pater- 

 nal cares and intimate family affection which his simple and 

 patriarchal habits rendered almost necessary to him, he 

 henceforth confined himself to this circle, in appearance nar- 

 row, but which the affections of the heart and labours of the 

 mind enabled him to extend. He lived in the silence of his 

 cabinet, and in the calm of science, above the ambitious con- 

 tentions of men ; and there he lived happily. For there is, 

 and it is well to declare it, an inherent dignity in science, 

 which may prove sufficient for those who cultivate it. 



M. D'Aubuisson thus ti'anquilly reached the close of his 

 career. His last serious occupation was the second edition 

 of his Traite de Hydraulique, which he greatly improved ; 

 and he had thus the consolation of giving the finishing touch 

 to this most valuable work. When the moment approached 

 when it was the will of the Deity that he should be removed 

 from this world and torn from the affection of his friends, he 

 had a kind of presentiment of his approaching end ; and feel- 

 ing his activity revive for a moment, he again traversed his 

 district as chief engineer, and revisited all the establishments 

 which he had either established or brought to prosperity, and 

 the different mines which he had done so much to improve. To 

 all whom he visited he bade adieu, and yet his activity never 

 appeared to us to be greater; but some days after his return, a 

 general weakness, which at first affected his sight, and threw 

 him into a gloomy state of mind, soon extended to his whole 

 frame : from this he never recovered. Yet in his last mo- 

 ments, and when the end was at hand, he recovered all his 



